Sign Language - a Fascinating Language

Sign language is the mother tongue of deaf people. Anything can be told in sign lanugage by those who know it. This includes day-to-day work experiences, but also cooking recepies or gardening tips. Similar to languages that are spoken aloud, there are also differences between sign languages of different regions. There are even various dialects. Sign language is based on the same principles as other languages. However, it is spoken by using the hands and facial expressions as well as posture. Difficulties arise if the counterpart does not understand sign language. The exact number of people who rely on sign language is hard to determine, but estimates go to about 200,000 speakers of sign language in Germany and about 10,000 in Austria.

iSignIT-app Creates Trust and Confidence

Problems arise whenever a counterpart does not speak or understand sign language. Of course, interpreters exist, but they are not always readily available. This is especially troublesome in situations where prompt translation would be needed, e.g. when dealing with urgent medical issues. In such situations, clear and unambiguous communication between patients and medical professionals is especially important. This is not only a question of courtesy. Clear statements can help to avoid serious consequences. Sometimes, they can even save lifes. A good relationship between patients and medical professionals always includes trust and communication plays an important role in this context.

iSignIT-app - a Mobile Aid for Translation

iSignIT-app is an application for mobile devices, a so-called app. iSignIT-app was designed for use in hospitals as well as in medical practices. For these settings, the app aides with basic communication in sign language. Based on simple questions and answers, a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing can communicate with his doctor or the nursing staff. Pre-defined subjects simplify orientation within the set of provided phrases. A patient can easily describe the current problems while nurses and doctors can ask further questions or provide appropriate information for the patient. Aided bei iSignIT-app, it becomes much easier for doctors to take medical histories of patients who have to rely on sign-language and to inform them about the next steps to be taken regarding diagnostics and treatment.

iSignIT-app is not able to act as a replacement for professional translators. For conveying complex content and especially in life-threatening situations or when taking or avoiding an action can have serious consequences on the health of the patient, one should always use the service of professional translators.

iSignIT-app is Available for Free!

iSignIT-app is the world's first app for mobile devices that has the purpose of translating medical content into sign language. Currently, content is available for German, Austrian as well as English sign language. The app was developed in a close cooperation between native speakers of sign-language, the company "Blue Owl Software" as well as the ServiceCenter ÖGS.barrierefrei. Additional languages could easily be integrated into iSignIT-App.

Please Participate!

We would like to increase the number of languages integrated into the app! Therefore, the iSignIT-app project is looking for additional partners from all over the world in order to add new languages. Please contact us, we are looking forward to hearing from you!

A more extensive, standardized description of the app in the form of an “app synopsis” containing information about the app’s functionalities, its effectiveness, limitations, reliability of the contents and experts involved, quality aspects, conflicts of interest and data protection and privacy can be found in the menu.